"Your highness?" Stark asked.
Killian didn't want to deal with this — not now, not with his mate in the jaws of the enemy just a few feet away. He wanted Scout back, safe. He wanted to hold his mate in his arms and never let go.
"He's not lying," Killian said. He raised his head so that every wolf in the Whitewood pack could hear. "It's no longer a secret. It shouldn't have been one in the first place. I didn't know about it myself until a few hours ago."
Killian thought being honest would be the best approach — but as he spoke, he didn't see any flickers of sympathy or understanding among his pack mates. Instead they looked stunned that Killian didn't seem more upset about it. But hewasupset. His father — his own flesh and blood — had betrayed him by attempting to have his mate murdered. Killian still wasn't over that. He didn’t think he would ever be, even if he could find it in himself to forgive his father someday. But right now the king was badly wounded, Scout was in the grip of Silvercreek claws, and the whole group of alphas and omegas were counting on him. It was not the time to be emotional.
"That's right," the assassin said smoothly. "The king hired me to killyourmate."
"But you couldn't," Killian spat. "I'd like to remind you of how that went. I'm surprised you're not still limping."
The grey wolf's lip twitched. "It doesn't change the fact that your father hired an enemy to kill your omega. Is that the kind of family you want running your pack?" He spoke now to the royal guard and omegas, who seemed too stunned to move. "When your king dies, do you really want your next ruler to be the spawn of a traitor?"
Killian was furious now. He barely contained himself from launching at the wolf and tearing his face off. But the anger in him shriveled and died when he saw the expression on Scout's face. Killian's heart felt like it had been pierced by an arrow. Scout looked sorrowful and betrayed, his huge eyes glistening and rimmed with tears.
"Scout?" Killian began. "What's wrong?"
The omega didn't move. He stared wide-eyed at his mate, his expression shadowed and unreadable. Afraid, Killian took another step closer. "Scout—"
The grey wolf snarled. "Don't come any closer. I'm warning you."
Killian stopped. He suddenly felt cold and feverish at the same time. His whole body trembled. Why wasn't Scout trying to return to him? "Scout, please — my father made a mistake. He knows what he did was wrong—“
"I knew he didn't like me, but... to hire someone to kill me?" Scout said, voice hoarse. "I just... I don't know if I feel safe living in the palace, knowing what I do now."
Killian's heart turned to lead and dropped to his stomach. He felt sick.
"What are you saying?"
Scout averted his gaze. He wouldn't look his mate in the eye. "I don't know. Maybe it's best if..."
Every hair on Killian's pelt stood on end. "Ifwhat?" he snapped.
Scout finally raised his head to look Killian in the eye. "Maybe it's best if I don't come back to the palace."
"No." Killian's voice wavered. "No, no, you can't do this."
As the grey wolf's eyes glinted with satisfaction, Killian dug his claws into the ground to stop himself from lunging forward and killing the bastard where he stood. "You heard him," the assassin said.
Killian couldn't hold himself back anymore. "You'd rather go who-knows-where with the wolf who tried to kill you than return home with me?" he cried. His voice was full of anger but sorrow and grief as well. He was falling apart.
Scout shrugged. "You have the other omegas now. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding a new mate the king actually approves of."
Beside Killian, even the rest of the alpha guard looked shocked. Stark watched in horror as the prince's omega gave himself up. Kyle's eyes watered and he was on the verge of bursting into tears. The rest of the Whitewood omegas were stunned into silence. They could only watch, helpless, as their savior was taken prisoner by the enemy who had captured them — and seemingly by his own will.
"It's settled, then," the assassin said. "In exchange for this omega, I'm letting you go free with all of your omegas in tow. And to top it off, I won't even chase you out of the territory. I assume you can find your own way out."
He stepped aside to let Scout to his feet. Killian watched in horror as his mate — the person he loved the most in the entire world, the man he would die for — got up and dropped his gaze, allowing the wolf who had almost killed him days earlier to guide him deeper into enemy territory. Killian waited. He waited for Scout to turn around — to bite his captor, to run away. Maybe he was just waiting for his guard to go down. He just needed the right moment. Killian prayed and hoped — but Scout never changed his course.
His heart shattered as he watched his mate disappear into the black bushes, alongsidethe wolf who had tried to kill him.
Killian stood frozen, battling his own emotions. At first he didn't feel Stark bumping up against his shoulder, or hear him murmuring in his ear.
"...know you want to help him. We all do," Stark was saying. "But right now, there's too many of us to move with stealth. Let's go back to Whitewood first and we can regroup there. Alright?"
"What?" Killian growled. He was still dazed, and his question was more out of confusion than anger.
Stark looked him in the eye. "We'll come back for Scout. I promise. We can regroup and come back with reinforcements who aren't weakened by being held captive."
Killian nodded slowly. It was like his mind had shut down and he was running on autopilot now. He let Stark take the lead while he loped behind, his head low and his mind waging war on itself.
Scout hadn't just been stolen — he had left on his own. He had looked Killian straight in the eyes and told him he didn't want to come back. Killian's chest ached with grief. What was the point of returning home if Scout wasn't by his side?
